FOOTBALL Live

Thursday April 8, 2010FinishedVolkswagen Arena

0-1

VfL Wolfsburg

A goal after 20 seconds saw Fulham move into the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 1-0 win at Wolfsburg to triumph 3-1 on aggregate. More

Live Commentary

Time:90'

VfL Wolfsburg

Fulham

90+2'There's the final whistle. A superb display from Fulham, and they thoroughly deserve their semi-final spot. They have totally outplayed Wolfsburg here.

89'Zamora with a beautiful piece of skill on the halfway-line to outfox two defenders, before laying on a super ball for Konchesky, who hesitates for a split-second too long before delivering the cross. If there's a better big English striker right now than Bobby Zamora then I haven't seen him. Emily Heskey you say? No chance. Peter Crouch? Not as skilful, not as clinical. Carlton Cole? Nope.

85'Dzeko hits the post with a left foot shot!!! It falls straight for Grafite...OFF THE LINE BY HANGELAND!!! An unbelievable few minutes here!

83'Konchesky's cross is defelcted perfectly into the path of the onrushing Danny Murphy...OFF THE LINE BY BARZAGLI!!! Another big chance goes begging for Fulham, but they remain well in control.

77'Zamora has a header correctly ruled out for offside.

77'Fantastic ball from Zamora for Davies...he brings it down superbly...BRILLIANT SAVE FROM BENAGLIO!!! He saved it with his outstretched leg when it looked for all the world like Fulham would take a 2-0 lead.

75'Great save from Schwarzer to tip away Dzeko's volley from a corner!!

73'Danny Murphy works himself some space on the edge of the area, though he can't keep his shot down. You cuold see he was looking for the top corner there.

70'Great closing down from Fulham as Misimovic's effort from outside the area is blocked. Wolfsburg look totally out of ideas.

67'Dejagah does well to win a corner off Davies for Wolfsburg. Barzagli gets his head to the cross, but is leaning back and can do nothing with it.

63'Obafemi Martins is on for Chrstian Gentner as Wolfsburg look to commit more men forward.

61'Misimovic releases Dzeko inside the area, big chance, his firt tough carries him slightly wide, and the cross is behind his strike partner Grafite!! That was Wolfsburg's most dangerous move of the match so far.

58'Misimovic picks the ball up on the edge of the area and shapes to shoot, only to lose his footing and allow Etuhu to clear the danger. That rather sums of Woflsburg's night so far.

54'Dzeko is released in behind the Fulham defence, he's no speed merchant and the Fulham defence get back to hold him up, he lays it off for Dejageh, he in turn finds Schaefer, who sees a first-time effort from 25 yards deflected wide.

51'Gera wins possession in midfield for Fulham and looks to release Zamora with a cute reverse pass, but the Hungarian couldn't quite get his angles right.

49'Danny Murphy is seeing quite a bit of the ball in this second half so far. Perhaps Josue, his marker, has been told to push forward in the search for goals.

46'Wolfsburg kick off the second half. They need two goals to force extra-time here.

45+1'There's the half-time whistle, and so far so good for Fulham. They lead 1-0 on the night (3-1 on aggregate) thanks to Bobby Zamora's first-minute strike.

45'Lovely exchange between Dejageh and Misimovic sets the former free down the right, he crosses low for Grafite, but Hughes is there to intercept at the expense of a corner.

41'Lovely cross clipped in by Dejageh towards Grafite, it's to high for him, but Gentner's arriving at the back post...he can't keep it in though.

38'Great run from Zamora to give Duff an option, Duff plays the big striker in, he brings it forward and plays the ball low across the box, but it's behind Gera, and nobody else was following up the move!

34'Pekari is being replaced by Ashkan Dejageh for Wolfsburg - who is a far more pacy, attacking right back. An early tactical switch from Lorenz Günther-Köstner.

30'Dzeko with a neat ball in behind the defence for Grafite, but the big Brazilian has strayed offside, and the flag goes up. That's the first time they've really linked so far.

28'A slight period of calm now following that rather manic beginning. Fulham are looking comfortable here.

23'Duff brings it forward on the right, he looks for the run of Simon Davies...but the pass is slightly overhit, and the Welshman can't keep that in play.

19'Fine cross from Schaefer in towards Dzeko in the area, but Hughes gets there first to head clear. Wolfsburg are beginning to get a foothold in this game now.

16'Murphy now tests Benaglio with a first-time shot from inside the area!! To be fair, he hit it straight at the 'keeper. This is an incredibly open game! It could be 3-2 already!

12'GOAL! Woflsburg have equalised...or have they...NO! Grafite was offside as he reacted to Schwarzer's save from a volley.

11'Awful ball from Murphy gives it away right on the edge of the Fulham area, it's played back to Gentner, and Schwarzer makes a smart save down low to his right! After dominating the opening stages, Fulham almost shot themselves in the foot there.

9'Now Etuhu glances a header wide from the ensuing corner! This is a superb start from Fulham, they've had three decent chances, and already have one goal inside the opening ten minutes!

7'Duff swings in a high, deep cross to the far post, and Gera climbs very well above Pekarik, and Benaglio has to hurl himself down to his left to tip that one behind.

4'Grafite turns on the edge of the area, but balloons the ball high into the stands with the shot.

3'Well, that has certainly stunned the home fans. There was a real sea of optimism around here before the game, but it's the Fulham fans who are bellowing out the chants of "Super Bobby" right now.

1'GOAL!!!! 20 seconds in and Fulham have the lead!!!! Incredible start!!! It's Bobby Zamora! Zoltan Gera feigned to shoot on the edge of the area but inside slipped a gorgeous little ball through to Zamora, who turned beautifully and finished clinically past Benaglio. Cracking goal, and a vital away goal for Fulham. Wolfsburg need two just to take this to extra time now!

1'Fulham kick off the first half.

19:50Thankfully for Fulham, their main man Bobby Zamora has been passed fit, and starts up front. Clint Dempsey is out, however, so Simon Davies deputises.

19:45Well, there are no secrets about where Wolfsburg's strengths lie. Edin Dzeko and Grafite are on of the best strike partnerships in Europe, and it was their goals that carried the team to the Bundesliga title last year. If Fulham can keep them quiet, then they have an excellent chance of advancing to the semi-finals. Dzeko has 18 goals in the Bundesliga this season, while Grafite has 9.

19:15Fulham lead 2-1 from the first leg of this UEFA Cup quarter-final, though Alex Madlung's late strike at Craven Cottage has given the German champions real hope in this game. A 1-0 win for the Bundesliga side would suffice, while a draw is all Fulham need to progress.

19:00Welcome to eurosport.yahoo.com's live text coverage of Wolfsburg v Fulham from the VW Arena!

Summary

85'Dzeko hits the post with a left foot shot!!! It falls straight for Grafite...OFF THE LINE BY HANGELAND!!! An unbelievable few minutes here!

83'Konchesky's cross is defelcted perfectly into the path of the onrushing Danny Murphy...OFF THE LINE BY BARZAGLI!!! Another big chance goes begging for Fulham, but they remain well in control.

77'Fantastic ball from Zamora for Davies...he brings it down superbly...BRILLIANT SAVE FROM BENAGLIO!!! He saved it with his outstretched leg when it looked for all the world like Fulham would take a 2-0 lead.

75'Great save from Schwarzer to tip away Dzeko's volley from a corner!!

61'Misimovic releases Dzeko inside the area, big chance, his firt tough carries him slightly wide, and the cross is behind his strike partner Grafite!! That was Wolfsburg's most dangerous move of the match so far.

16'Murphy now tests Benaglio with a first-time shot from inside the area!! To be fair, he hit it straight at the 'keeper. This is an incredibly open game! It could be 3-2 already!

11'Awful ball from Murphy gives it away right on the edge of the Fulham area, it's played back to Gentner, and Schwarzer makes a smart save down low to his right! After dominating the opening stages, Fulham almost shot themselves in the foot there.

7'Duff swings in a high, deep cross to the far post, and Gera climbs very well above Pekarik, and Benaglio has to hurl himself down to his left to tip that one behind.

1'GOAL!!!! 20 seconds in and Fulham have the lead!!!! Incredible start!!! It's Bobby Zamora! Zoltan Gera feigned to shoot on the edge of the area but inside slipped a gorgeous little ball through to Zamora, who turned beautifully and finished clinically past Benaglio. Cracking goal, and a vital away goal for Fulham. Wolfsburg need two just to take this to extra time now!